http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/knowy...KNOWYOURFARMER

This could be cool.
--

modom

On 2009-09-25, modom (palindrome guy) > wrote:
> http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/knowy...KNOWYOURFARMER

> This could be cool.

How so?

nb

On Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:30:09 GMT, notbob > wrote:

>On 2009-09-25, modom (palindrome guy) > wrote:
>> http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/knowy...KNOWYOURFARMER
>
>> This could be cool.
>
>How so?
>
Well, for one thing, it looks like there are Fed bucks to support
small food producers like my friends Nathan and Ellen. They're the
good people who sold me half a hog back in 2007. Since the Melsons are
in a pastured meat cooperative along with the Hales and a few other
local producers, the whole group may be able to get financial
assistance. And it also looks like there is Fed money available to
support restarting the farmers' market here in my tiny town.

I'm still noodling my way through the Web site, but I've found grant
opportunities that people I work with around here on things like
improving the quality of life (and food) may benefit from.

And in general, I guess the idea that the USDA is attending to issues
involving food quality and nutrition at all id a breath of fresh air.
So much of its money and energy historically has gone to Big Ag that
setting up even a modest program directed towards local food
production and sustainability seems cool. At least possibly so.
--

modom

On 2009-09-25, modom (palindrome guy) > wrote:

> Well, for one thing, it looks like there are Fed bucks to support

> local producers, the whole group may be able to get financial
> assistance. And it also looks like there is Fed money available to
> support......

> I'm still noodling my way through the Web site, but I've found grant
> opportunities.....

> So much of its money and energy historically has gone to Big Ag....

That's the purpose of the USDA? To give money to agriculture? Sounds
suspiciously like socialism (GASP!). I thought the purpose of the
USDA was to regulate producers to prevent the toxic contamination of
everything in sight from spinach to peanut butter. Silly me.

What was your stand on free health care, again? I forget.

nb

On Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:26:41 GMT, notbob > wrote:

>On 2009-09-25, modom (palindrome guy) > wrote:
>
>> Well, for one thing, it looks like there are Fed bucks to support
>
>> local producers, the whole group may be able to get financial
>> assistance. And it also looks like there is Fed money available to
>> support......
>
>> I'm still noodling my way through the Web site, but I've found grant
>> opportunities.....
>
>> So much of its money and energy historically has gone to Big Ag....
>
>That's the purpose of the USDA? To give money to agriculture? Sounds
>suspiciously like socialism (GASP!). I thought the purpose of the
>USDA was to regulate producers to prevent the toxic contamination of
>everything in sight from spinach to peanut butter. Silly me.

I suppose we could look into its charter to discover the purpose of
the USDA. But I made no statement about its purpose.

First, I spoke of the fact that funding for rural development and
local food networks is apparently being made available through a new
initiative, and if they're giving out guaranteed loans and grants for
those sorts of things, I want my town to get in line for our share.

And second, I spoke of the historical pattern of the USDA supporting
Big Ag and how this new initiative appears to be a tiny step away from
the centralization of our food production system that is the result of
such support.

Our food economy is butt ugly distorted by a history of Federal
subsidies for the big commodities like corn and soy beans. One result
of that distortion is how cheap empty calories are relative to
wholesome foods. Another is crummy tasting food.
>
>What was your stand on free health care, again? I forget.
>
I've looked into the discussion of health care reform in a number of
media and venues, but not on this forum. That thread, I passed over.
None of the proposals I've seen elsewhere so far suggest that health
insurance should be free. Probably I've missed something.

But here's a fun fact: When Clinton tried for health care reform in
the early 90s, spending on medical things in the US totaled 12% of
GDP. This year it's right about 16% of GDP. That's a macroeconomic
trend that bodes ill unless something serious changes.
--

modom

On 2009-09-25, modom (palindrome guy) > wrote:

> Our food economy is butt ugly distorted by a history of Federal
> subsidies for the big commodities like corn and soy beans. One result
> of that distortion is how cheap empty calories are relative to
> wholesome foods. Another is crummy tasting food.

So, we should subsidize all agriculture, large and small? Sounds like
corporate welfare.

nb

modom wrote:

> And second, I spoke of the historical pattern of the USDA supporting
> Big Ag and how this new initiative appears to be a tiny step away from
> the centralization of our food production system that is the result of
> such support.

I think Monsanto will be filing a lawsuit to stop the new initiative any
moment now.

Bob

In article >,
"modom (palindrome guy)" > wrote:


> And second, I spoke of the historical pattern of the USDA supporting
> Big Ag and how this new initiative appears to be a tiny step away from
> the centralization of our food production system that is the result of
> such support.
>
> Our food economy is butt ugly

That's Butz, not butt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Butz

Secretary of Agriculture appointed by Richard Nixon, served from 1971 to
1976.

'His mantra to farmers was "get big or get out," and he urged farmers to
plant commodity crops like corn "from fencerow to fencerow."'

> distorted by a history of Federal
> subsidies for the big commodities like corn and soy beans. One result
> of that distortion is how cheap empty calories are relative to
> wholesome foods. Another is crummy tasting food.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:58:51 -0500, "modom (palindrome guy)"
> wrote:

>On Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:30:09 GMT, notbob > wrote:
>
>>On 2009-09-25, modom (palindrome guy) > wrote:
>>> http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/knowy...KNOWYOURFARMER
>>
>>> This could be cool.
>>
>>How so?
>>
>Well, for one thing, it looks like there are Fed bucks to support
>small food producers like my friends Nathan and Ellen. They're the
>good people who sold me half a hog back in 2007. Since the Melsons are
>in a pastured meat cooperative along with the Hales and a few other
>local producers, the whole group may be able to get financial
>assistance. And it also looks like there is Fed money available to
>support restarting the farmers' market here in my tiny town.
>
>I'm still noodling my way through the Web site, but I've found grant
>opportunities that people I work with around here on things like
>improving the quality of life (and food) may benefit from.
>
>And in general, I guess the idea that the USDA is attending to issues
>involving food quality and nutrition at all id a breath of fresh air.
>So much of its money and energy historically has gone to Big Ag that
>setting up even a modest program directed towards local food
>production and sustainability seems cool. At least possibly so.

Hey thanks for posting that!! We're rural farmers and grow coffee,
but like all other small farmers, we have a really hard time competing
against agribusiness. I love the slogan, "Know Your Farmer, Know your
Food"!

I will take the website to our group of small farmers soon.

Many thanks!

with aloha,
Cea

In article >,
"modom (palindrome guy)" > wrote:

> And in general, I guess the idea that the USDA is attending to issues
> involving food quality and nutrition at all id a breath of fresh air.
> So much of its money and energy historically has gone to Big Ag that
> setting up even a modest program directed towards local food
> production and sustainability seems cool. At least possibly so.

And at a time when gardening and home food preservation has renewed
interest, they are no longer funding research in safe home food
preservation! The National Center for Home Food Preservation, located
at the U of GA, has run out of funding and is down to a staff of one.
Alex bless her!
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - Yes, I Can! blog - check
it out. And check this, too: <http://www.kare11.com/news/
newsatfour/newsatfour_article.aspx?storyid=823232&catid=323>

Melba's Jammin' wrote:
>
> In article >,
> "modom (palindrome guy)" > wrote:
>
> > And in general, I guess the idea that the USDA is attending to issues
> > involving food quality and nutrition at all id a breath of fresh air.
> > So much of its money and energy historically has gone to Big Ag that
> > setting up even a modest program directed towards local food
> > production and sustainability seems cool. At least possibly so.
>
> And at a time when gardening and home food preservation has renewed
> interest, they are no longer funding research in safe home food
> preservation! The National Center for Home Food Preservation, located
> at the U of GA, has run out of funding and is down to a staff of one.
> Alex bless her!

Minor point here, but what exactly is left to research in the area of
"safe home food preservation"? It seems to me that the newest
technologies of irradiation and modified atmosphere packaging aren't
likely to be home user friendly any time soon, and all the technologies
for home user friendly food preservation have been fully researched for
many years. Based on this, it seems that all that is needed *is* one
person to maintain a web library and answer the stray question from the
public.

In article .com>,
"Pete C." > wrote:
> Minor point here, but what exactly is left to research in the area of
> "safe home food preservation"? It seems to me that the newest
> technologies of irradiation and modified atmosphere packaging aren't
> likely to be home user friendly any time soon, and all the technologies
> for home user friendly food preservation have been fully researched for
> many years. Based on this, it seems that all that is needed *is* one
> person to maintain a web library and answer the stray question from the
> public.

Some of the new stuff they've done there has been to create or test or
adapt recipes from other cultures so they can be safely and correctly
processed for shelf storage.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - Yes, I Can! blog - check
it out. And check this, too: <http://www.kare11.com/news/
newsatfour/newsatfour_article.aspx?storyid=823232&catid=323>

On Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:31:35 -0500, Melba's Jammin' wrote:

> In article >,
> "modom (palindrome guy)" > wrote:
>
>> And in general, I guess the idea that the USDA is attending to issues
>> involving food quality and nutrition at all id a breath of fresh air.
>> So much of its money and energy historically has gone to Big Ag that
>> setting up even a modest program directed towards local food
>> production and sustainability seems cool. At least possibly so.
>
> And at a time when gardening and home food preservation has renewed
> interest, they are no longer funding research in safe home food
> preservation! The National Center for Home Food Preservation, located
> at the U of GA, has run out of funding and is down to a staff of one.
> Alex bless her!

how odd, since all the 'trend stories' in the newspaper food sections and
the like are talking about more people canning due to the recession and
whatnot.

your pal,
blake

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:

> On Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:31:35 -0500, Melba's Jammin' wrote:
(snip)
> > The National Center for Home Food Preservation, located at the U of
> > GA, has run out of funding and is down to a staff of one. Alex
> > bless her!

>
> how odd, since all the 'trend stories' in the newspaper food sections and
> the like are talking about more people canning due to the recession and
> whatnot.
>
> your pal,
> blake

I agree. That's the goofiness of it. The NCHFP was established with
grant money maybe 5-7 years ago and they've done a lot of stuff -
providing education materials has been a big part, I'm guessing. They
ran out of funding at an inopportune time, IMNSHO.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - Yes, I Can! blog - check
it out. And check this, too: <http://www.kare11.com/news/
newsatfour/newsatfour_article.aspx?storyid=823232&catid=323>

On Sep 25, 2:28 pm, "modom (palindrome guy)" >
wrote:
> http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/knowy...KNOWYOURFARMER
>
> This could be cool.
> --
I was just hit by something in the opposite direction when I learned
that the only supermarket left that sold USDA Choice grade beef has
given it up. Vons, Safeway, Albertsons, and now Ralphs/Kroger all
sell USDA Select or worse plus some ungraded house brand (like
Ranchers Reserve for Vons) that they tout as the equivalent of USDA
Choice, though of course it's not. Now I'm going to have to drive out
of my way to Costco and probably will have to start freezing more
beef, which I have always resisted doing. -aem

In article >,
"modom (palindrome guy)" > wrote:

> http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/knowy...KNOWYOURFARMER
>
> This could be cool.


Right.
http://simplegoodandtasty.com/
A dinner to meet "my farmer" (well, three, actually) will be held at
Lucia's in Uptown. A mere $100 <=8-) will get me in for the
meal, wine, tax, tip, and blahblahblah with the farmers. I think I'll
take my chances with getting to know "my farmers" at the farmers market.
Knowing my pigmeat guy (I'll see him tomorrow) is good enough for me and
not nearly so 'spensive.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://web.me.com/barbschaller - Yes, I Can! blog - check
it out. And check this, too: <http://www.kare11.com/news/
newsatfour/newsatfour_article.aspx?storyid=823232&catid=323>

On Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:28:32 -0500, Melba's Jammin'
> wrote:

>In article >,
> "modom (palindrome guy)" > wrote:
>
>> http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/knowy...KNOWYOURFARMER
>>
>> This could be cool.
>
>
>Right.
>http://simplegoodandtasty.com/
>A dinner to meet "my farmer" (well, three, actually) will be held at
>Lucia's in Uptown. A mere $100 <=8-) will get me in for the
>meal, wine, tax, tip, and blahblahblah with the farmers. I think I'll
>take my chances with getting to know "my farmers" at the farmers market.
>Knowing my pigmeat guy (I'll see him tomorrow) is good enough for me and
>not nearly so 'spensive.

Yeah, there is that part of the local food thing -- the Alice Waters
faction, happy to bilk the balls off their customers for the cachet of
locally sourced unicorn medallions or whatever. But around here we
have some people who have convinced me of their agricultural
bonifides. These folks walk the walk. And their chicken doesn't come
from a factory. Their lamb doesn't come from New Zealand. (Pace, my
antipodal comrades! I mean only that it arrives on my table without
traversing the globe.) I don't eat it every day, but when I do, I can
tell the difference. It tastes like here, not some place else.

Too many Americans have not the faintest notion where their food comes
from. And so they eat stuff that hardly qualifies as food at all. This
is no trivial matter, in my opinion.
--

modom